Things to do in Lisbon

You’ll have no problem finding things to do in vibrant, happening Lisbon. Just wander the streets and you’re bound to chance upon some interesting event. Some things in Lisbon are so celebrated, however, that you might have a hard time convincing anyone at home you’ve been to Lisbon if you haven’t done them.

The first must be attending a Fado performance, which combines so much of what makes Lisbon interesting. Mostly held in the most traditional parts of Lisbon, such as Alfama and Bairro Alto, you’ll be touched by the indefinable sentiment it evokes and most probably be surprised how such melancholy strains can be so uplifting. A performance is not just a way to experience this unique musical form, but also simply a great night out.

The second is the food and the wine. There are so many types of cuisine, dishes and styles of preparation that you only have yourself to blame if you leave without having had some truly memorable meals. And apart from some of the wines being the best you’ll ever taste, some, like vinho verde (especially the red version) and Port, are so intimately related to the country that to not try them here on their native soil would be a shame. Going out to a restaurant, cafe or a bar forms such an important part of life here that you should plunge into this with abandon to be to able to say you’ve really experienced Lisbon.

Architecture, religious buildings, museums, music, festivals, sports, Lisbon has it all, but be sure to have some spare time for that special neighbourhood, that little shop, that building that you’ll encounter quite by accident and that will make your trip all the more special.